Thursday, 8 June 2017

Prag VEC ‎– "Bits EP" (Spec Records ‎– SP001) 1978

A group frequently seen supporting nigh-on every 'post-punk ' act going, especially Magazine, in 1978/9 was proto-indie arty types Prag VEC.Admirably 'Prog' free, they were an early pointer to what would become know as 'Indie' to floppy fringed students everywhere.The band name was apparently a contraction of the two words "pragmatism" and "vector", chosen at random.

Later line-ups featured Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell, whose career went decidedly downhill, musically, from there, but uphill in terms of success.Personally, Foetus is one of those musical projects I can't abide......unlike Prag VEC who are brilliant; even though they occasionally indulge themselves with that Post-Punk cliché of writing a song with French lyrics. A 'proggy' tactic to show your peers how intellectual you are.......it works, and as a bi-product you inevitably get an audience in France; and they will never forget you for it.

Cival Disobedience is good:

“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of leaders…and millions have been killed because of this obedience…Our problem is that people are obedient allover the world in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves… (and) the grand thieves are running the country. That’s our problem.”